NextGen Day

MANILA, Philippines — The European Union Delegation in Manila reminded the Philippines on Thursday that it must submit its formal response to the bloc’s flaws in its seafarer training standards by March 10.

The reminder came just days after a February 8 meeting in Brussels between Philippine officials and European Commission Director-General for Mobility and Transport Henrik Hololei.

“While Director-General Hololei was grateful to Vice-Admiral Empedrad for meeting informally in Brussels and for his oral presentation, he made clear that the Commission’s assessment would solely be based on the written reply to the Commission notification, to be provided no later than 10 March 2022,” said EU Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Véron, who attended the meeting.”

The ambassador, echoing Hololei, stated that this formal response should include clear evidence of the efforts taken by Philippine authorities to ensure compliance with the country’s duties under the STCW Convention (Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers).

The conference was convened at the request of the Philippine side to clarify the EU’s procedures and expectations following the sending of the notification letter on December 20, 2021.

During the meeting, the Commission described the method to the Philippines delegation, as well as the future stages after the country’s response.

“The Commission gave specific examples of what it expects from the Philippines’ response. Finally, the Commission urged the Philippines to step up efforts to comply with the STCW Convention,” according to the EU.

Several Philippine government officials are part of the group, including Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator Robert Empedrad.

In December 2021, the Commission alerted the Philippines of a number of shortcomings in its seafarers’ education system, which fails to ensure that the STCW Convention’s standards are met.

Inspections and evaluations of the schools were found to have inconsistencies, including “concerning findings” on simulators and on-board instruction, among other things.

The government must provide its formal response by March 10th, after which the Commission will review it with the help of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).

If the EU receives a negative assessment, it will eventually stop accepting Philippine-issued STCW certificates for masters and officers, a decision that will be passed down to the EU’s 27 member states.

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